Continental Real Estate Beefs Up Retail Division

ORLANDO-Relatively unknown in most local commercial real estate circles until last year when it jointly bought the Downtown Wachovia Tower, Miami-based Continental Real Estate Cos. is shoring up its Orlando retail operations with the hiring of two professionals, a new promotion and the transfer of a broker from its South Florida division, according to company principals Carol Greenberg Brooks and Warren P. Weiser.

The new additions are Sasha Pardy and David Alderman. Amanda Mrozek, a former broker with the Inland Group of Oak Brook, IL and Sears Real Estate, has been promoted to director of Central Florida leasing activities. She has 10 years of retail leasing experience and is credited by the company owners for growing its Orlando retail operations.

Jason Reisman, a senior associate who has leased retail centers in South Florida for Continental for several years, returns to Orlando, his hometown, where he will oversee a portfolio of shopping centers.

Pardy joins Continental after spending three years with Trammell Crow Co. where she was responsible for marketing retail properties for lease and sale throughout the Southeast. She also produced the company's retail research reports. At Continental, Pardy will be leasing metro area retail centers in addition to developing and implementing marketing strategies for the firm.

Alderman, a leasing associate and Orlando native, has been in the retail real estate business for over 20 years and comes to Continental after leasing retail centers for locally based Quest Co.

Continental and New York-based Sterling American Property IV LP acquired the former 20-year-old First Union Tower at 20 N. Orange Ave., Downtown, in 2003 from Hanover Reinsurance Co. of Hanover, Germany for $30 million or $97.47 per sf. The 16-story 90%-leased property has been renamed Wachovia Tower. Continental manages the property.